James Pearson

Its High-Time for High-Tide

james — Sat, 04 May 2013 12:18:47 +0000

James Pearson and Polly Gibbons will do a Late Night Jazz Duo in the legendary High Tide festival, on saturday 4th may. Venue is the ‘cut’ in halesworth…time 10.00 pm…

Tribute to the Trios

james — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:20:29 +0000

A rare opportunity to hear James’s trio outside Ronnie Scott’s as the once again bring this fabulous show to Maidstone on friday April 12th. In addition they will be joined by the incredible Polly Gibbons, who is a regular performer with James and has the most incredible voice.

Remembering Oscar Peterson

james — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:50:01 +0000

A two piano spectactular portrait of one of the greatest pianists of them all. James and David Newton celebrate in style at Ronnie Scott’s on 1st and 2nd april.

Christmas Cabaret at Ronnie’s!

james — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 10:55:28 +0000

The Christmas season is approaching, like a steam train that has been given a new bag of coal..and James’s uniquely devised Christmas Lunches at Ronnie Scott’s – will be ringing through the streets of Soho, from 5th December. Challenge The Band…The “X” factor Kazoo competition, and you could even get a chance to perform on the historic stage…

Erroll Garner Tribute

james — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 10:46:13 +0000

James will perform his unique musical portrait of the piano giant, Erroll Garner on 4th July at Ronnie Scott’s. Come and hear some of Errolls lesser known compositions alongside selections from the “concert by the sea” …

Moonlighting on Sunday…a rare duo!

james — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:28:21 +0000

This Sunday, the 20th May holds a rare opportunity to hear James in Duo with the fantastic vocalist Georgia Mancio. The duo is re-united after their sell out show last year. The performance will be at London’s Pizza Express in Dean street, where they have a delightful Steinway… The unique sound of Piano and Voice together is a time tested artform and to hear James and Georgia in such intimate surroundings is one not to be missed! Check out Georgia’s website www.georgiamancio.com for more details. See You There!

Ronnie Scott’s Christmas Lunches

james — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:08:53 +0000

For the third year running James Pearson’s unique lunchtime Christmas Cabaret has started. Alongside fellow Ronnie Scotts Allstars Natalie Williams and Alex Garnett this is a christmas show with a differnce. Audiences can take part in the Kazoo competition as well as hear Rachmaninoff interpret Jingle Bells or a rap version of “Ding Dong”….A Boogie Woogie “In The Bleak Midwinter” to Chas and Dave style “Rudolf”…complete with Cockney singing. Check out www.ronniescotts.co.uk for timings and info.

Jazzwise Review

james — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:02:56 +0000

As usual at Ronnie’s Saturday night at the club features two houses, turned around a little after 10pm, and the ideal opening set to the first house was provided by the trio of artistic director pianist James Pearson, bassist Tim Thornton, and drummer Mark Fletcher (formerly with poet Don Paterson’s much missed band Lammas), with singer Polly Gibbons joining. Gibbons when she was a complete unknown was nominated for a BBC jazz award and has grown artistically since this early recognition. Gibbons has a very unmannered soulful voice, and excelled on the late Phoebe Snow’s ‘Something Real’. Fragile at times, but with great emotional control, and a voice slightly reminiscent of Betty Carter’s, she has the wonderful ability to get inside any particular song she chooses, no small feat. Pearson and Thornton have a good thing going, channelling the softs and louds with Pearson’s recalibrated Oscar Peterson-isms and touches of his own invention superb as ever. Worth getting there early for, on an auspicious evening

Blues and The Abstract Truth

james — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 09:23:38 +0000

This Saturday James has put together an AllStar re-creation of Oliver Nelson’s seminal album from 1961. It will be performed in the Barbican before McCoy Tyner and stars Byron Wallen, Jean Touissaint, and Nathaniel Facey.

Children In Need-Weekend Wogan

james — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:33:58 +0000

On 30th October James will direct the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra in a BBCradio 2 special, live from the Savoy. Guests to include Joss Stone, Gary Barlow, Dionne Bromfield, Katie Melua and Englebert Humperdink…you can listen live between 11am and 1pm…

Rhapsody in Blue on Radio 2

james — Mon, 23 May 2011 13:48:16 +0000

Hear James play George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, this friday on Radio 2’s Friday Night Is Music Night, live from the Mermaid Theatre, with the BBC Concert Orchestra

George Shearing Remembered

james — Mon, 23 May 2011 13:35:05 +0000

James Pearson to perform George Shearing Tribute. In the Stables Theatre, Wavendon on July 10th.
After a sell out performance at Ronnie Scott’s James takes the show to Wavendon, where they musically recreate the George Shearing Quintet. He has dug out some rare material including many Shearing originals

Special Candle lit concert at St Martin in the Fields

admin — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 08:16:52 +0000

Late Night Jazz by Candlelight – an atmospheric retrospective of the Brandenburg Choral Festival

***SPECIAL £15 TICKET just quote JIMMY’S SPECIAL RATE at the box office***

Thursday 7th April sees Ronnie Scotts artistic director and internationally acclaimed pianist, James Pearson return to St Martin in the Fields for a unique concert. Following the Mozart Requiem James will perform by candlelight drawing inspiration from the many Brandenburg Spring Choral Festival concerts.

As a jazz artist, James will improvise the concert entirely drawing themes and highlights from such master works as the Brahms, Mozart and Fauré Requiems, Spem in Alium and Allegri’s Miserere. If one were to take the word of the Observer (Outstanding – Dave Gelly) and The Sunday Times (a multi faceted player in shattering form – Clive Davis) this really is a concert not to be missed.

FOR SPECIAL £15 TICKET RATE just quote JIMMY’S SPECIAL RATE at the box office (does not include a glass of wine)

Normal Tickets are £19 unreserved includes a pre-concert glass of wine
and available from the St Martin-in-the-Fields Box Office: 0207 7766 1100 or online at www.smitf.org

James Fort-Knox interviews… the Blindman

admin — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 11:40:31 +0000

Another instalment from the archive. In this episode we hear James Fort-Knox interviewing the The Blindman…

James Fort-Knox interviews… Bruddy Stitch

admin — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 11:41:55 +0000

Here is the first instalment from the ‘cleaned up’ interviews that Mr.Fort-Knox did about 35 years ago. The tapes have been ‘caked’ and some quality has been lost. However as archival material they are a testament to a time sadly now gone. In this episode we hear James Fort-Knox interviewing Bruddy Stitch…

James Fort-Knox interviews… The Naked Pianist

james — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 16:14:59 +0000

Another instalment from the archive. In this episode we hear James Fort-Knox interviewing the Naked Pianist…

CHRIS DAGLEY RIP

james — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:44:58 +0000

Our amazing drummer Chris Dagley has been tragically killed, whilst driving home on his scooter. It happened on tuesday night after a glorious night where he once again dazzled us with his incredible drumming. As a drummer he will be missed, but as a friend he will be missed more. Chris simply was unique and everybody loved him. The Musical world is in deep shock. My heart is with his beautiful family who were the reason his world was a happy one…

This photo will be the last one taken of Chris, as it was taken literally an hour before the fatal journey on a iphone app that made pictures into vintage photo’s- which he was fascinated by!

Marlborough College

james — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:56:00 +0000

A rare opportunity to hear James in a solo recital. On Monday 26th July James returns to one of his old haunts to entertain the participants of the Marlborough Summer School.

A Musical Portrait of Erroll Garner

james — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 08:22:37 +0000

On Thursday 8th July, at Ronnie Scotts, James will play a special tribute to one of the greatest pianists of all time, the wonderful Erroll Garner. Check out the www.ronniescotts.co.uk for full details and special ticket offer

James Pearson at St Martin in the Fields

admin — Tue, 18 May 2010 19:42:21 +0000

This is what the venue have to say….

James Pearson is regarded as one of the world’s most talented pianists. His diverse career has seen extraordinary musical achievements. He has given numerous concerts in venues such as the Royal Festival Hall and Liverpool Philarmonic Hall and broadcast on all the major radio and television networks, including Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No 2 on Classic FM, Gershwin’s Piano Concerto and Rhapsody in Blue on BBC Radio 2. He has performed with Principal Bass of the Concertgebouw Orchestra Dominic Seldis for over 15 years in the country’s top music halls, and local music clubs and societies.

His work as a Jazz musician has taken him all over the world, including most of the USA, and Europe, in the major jazz clubs such as ‘Birdland’ (NYC). His fine piano playing and arrangements can be heard on over 50 albums. He has played with the great heroes of jazz including Dame Cleo Laine, Maria Ewing, Marian Montgomery, Petula Clark, John Wilson, Elvin Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Dave Stewart, Buddy Grecco, Johnny Griffin, Joseph Horowitz, and Richard Rodney Bennett, to name but a few, and the great late Sir John Dankworth has said of him “James Pearson shows moments of genius, his improvising is only comparable to the great jazz legends like Oscar Peterson and George Shearing”.

As Artistic Director and house pianist of Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, besides playing there regularly with the world’s leading jazz artists, James is also repsonsible for booking the entire calendar of gigs. James also works frequently with Kevin Spacey and has recorded his own song with Joss Stone on vocals. His film work as a musical advisor and performer includes ‘Calendar Girls’ and ‘Alfie’ (the remake with Jude law), and ‘Beyond the Sea’. James’s work as a composer and arranger is multi-faceted. He has arranged and composed original music for BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC Big Band, and a whole host more. His future plans include a commission from the BFI for the entire score for ‘The Big Smoke’, a film about London through the ages, to be premiered in June.

Programme
An Evening with James Pearson.

The critically acclaimed pianist James Pearson, artistic director at Ronnie Scott’s, is well known for his great piano improvisations, these will be interspersed with witty anecdotes from ‘life behind the keys’. Tonight he treats us to jazz classics such as Mood Indigo, In a Mellowtone and Maple Leaf Ragtogether with his own jazz interpretations of classical masterpieces by Rachmaninov, Beethoven and Chopin. As usual with a Pearson performance you can expect the unexpected and be in for a real treat hearing a master at work…

“A true star” The Times

“Pearson puts a smile on everyone’s face” London Evening Standard

“Head and shoulders above the rest of his contemporaries” Sir John Dankworth

Ticket includes a glass of house wine or soft drink in Café in the Crypt before the concert

Concert lasts one hour without an interval

Click here to see the original article

James Pearson

Its High-Time for High-Tide

Tribute to the Trios

Remembering Oscar Peterson

Christmas Cabaret at Ronnie’s!

Erroll Garner Tribute

Moonlighting on Sunday…a rare duo!

Ronnie Scott’s Christmas Lunches

Jazzwise Review

Blues and The Abstract Truth

Children In Need-Weekend Wogan

Rhapsody in Blue on Radio 2

George Shearing Remembered

Special Candle lit concert at St Martin in the Fields

Related gig

James Fort-Knox interviews… the Blindman

James Fort-Knox interviews… Bruddy Stitch

James Fort-Knox interviews… The Naked Pianist

CHRIS DAGLEY RIP

Marlborough College

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A Musical Portrait of Erroll Garner

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James Pearson at St Martin in the Fields

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